Introduction
Teaching can be a wonderful profession if you love being creative and working with young learners. But before you can begin inspiring young minds, you need to make sure that you have the right teaching credentials and certification. While rules and procedures for certification vary by state, and are usually regulated by the state Department of Education, teachers in all states must meet the minimum requirement of attaining an undergraduate degree in education. Many states require appropriate teacher preparation coursework before employment or the completion of a content-based or teaching-based master's degree within a stated number of years. Additionally, to be permanently certified, teachers must pass exams on pedagogy, general knowledge and knowledge of a content area. Some states require teacher candidates to be fingerprinted prior to certification. It is also important to note that the prerequisite for a teaching certification may vary depending on whether or not you choose to work in a public, private, or charter school.
Public Schools
In order to teach in a public school, you must earn a bachelor's degree in education from an accredited college or university and pass a national or state standardized exam to receive a teaching license. Potential elementary (grades K-6) teachers are expected to complete a general studies degree, whereas secondary (grades 7-12) teachers are usually required to earn their bachelor's degree in a certifiable content area, such as English, science, history, and math. Many states also require that teachers undergo supervised evaluation during their first years of teaching. Some states use graduated licensing programs (i.e., initial, Stage II, Rank I, professional, provisional, etc.). In some cases, a license to teach in one state can facilitate the obtainment of a license in another state.
Private Schools
While public school teachers are required to fulfill the minimum state and federal requirements before entering the classroom, private schools are given more freedom. This fact has everything to do with how each institution is funded. Public schools are funded by the state and federal government and are therefore under the auspices of each entity. Private schools, both secular and religious, often charge tuition and are additionally primarily funded by private entities. Although most private schools require teachers to have a degree, many do not mandate that their teachers be state certified.
Charter Schools
Much like with public schools, certification requirements for charter schools vary by state. However, although charter schools receive local and state funding, they often enjoy some of the same freedoms as their private counter parts. In addition to having more autonomy over curriculum design, charter schools are also given more flexibility in establishing hiring requirements. For example, some states allow schools to hire professionals without the teacher license that is required for public school educators. During the hiring process, years of experience and field expertise can be substituted for a teaching certificate.
Alternative Route Teaching Certificate
Although in most cases you must meet the minimum state requirement to become a teacher, there are alternative ways to join the profession. Alternative teaching certification is a process by which a person is awarded a teaching license even though that person has not completed a traditional teacher certification program. Alternatively certified teachers typically possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and are completing (or have completed) an alternative certification program while teaching full-time. Alternatively certified teachers may also be career changers who are passionate about education, but may not have the time or money to go through the entire traditional process. For these individuals, other state certification requirements, such as the type of education coursework or the length of practice teaching, may be modified or waived.
Alternative certification programs first appeared in the 1980s. A decline in the number of students seeking a degree in education was creating a shortage of teachers in American elementary and secondary schools. States began to search for a way to recruit and train people who had already earned a four-year degree and wanted to become teachers. While the requirements for an alternative certification vary from state to state, there are certain commonalities found in the programs. A prospective teacher is usually required to complete an accelerated university program, pass the state licensing test, and submit to a series of interviews. He or she must be able to demonstrate a mastery of educational methods, and participate in a mentor program with a teacher who has completed a traditional education degree. Teach for America, The New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey Program and the Mississippi Teacher Corps are three highly competitive, alternate-route teaching programs for college graduates who are not education majors.
Academic doctors gather before a graduation procession at Brigham Young University
To achieve your target level of teaching, you must first attain the proper credentials.